Crane-operated device



-Nov. 18, 1930.

0 A. BARTHQLOMEW CRANE OPERATING DEVICE Filed May 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O. A. BARTHOLOMEW CRANE OPERATING DEVICE Nov. 18, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1929 *8 iv is '8 of the invention is to provide a device which can be lowered over a pile of railroad cross Patented Nov. 18, 1930 onto amm'rnotomnw, or s'rl Louis, MISSOURI CRANE-OPERATED DEVICE 1 Application filed May 11, 1929. Serial No. 862,153.

This invention relates to material handling I jaws for cranes and is more particularly, but not exclusively, designed for handling piles ofrailroad cross ties. The principal ob ect ties and which will automatically engage, lift, and deposit the cross ties in any deslred position. Y

- Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be entirely operated by the crane operator without assistance and which will automatically guide itself downwardly over a pile of cross ties.

on the line 33, Fig. 2. The cross ties are illustrated in broken line in this view piled -A further object of the invention is to in corporate with the above device means for clamping the ties in place therein so that danger of ties falling therefrom is eliminated.

Other objects and'advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

'In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description; i I

In the drawing: o i V, Fig; 1 is an end elevation of-the invention as itiwould' appearengaging a pile of cross ties. 1

- Fig.2 is a side elevation thereof. v Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section, taken in a way. which allowsseasomng. v

1 Fig.4 is a detail view illustrating an alternate method of using" the'lifting cables so that they will act toclampithe ties within the device' 1 1 I I Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating an alternate method. of clamping the cross ties in place. h Fig. 6 is a detail view of an alternate form of the device in which the lifting cables assist in closing the jaws.

air circulation for The .device is designed to be suspended from the boom of a crane. Referringito Figs. 1 and 2, and 3, the device comprises a v horizontal frame formed fof longitudinal channel irons 9 and lateral channel irons 10,

device. lateral channels 10, brackets 11 are secured whlch extend downwardly and terminatein" bearing boxes 12. Upper side plates 17 i are secured to ets 11. i A hinge shaft 18 is journaled in-thebearing boxes 12 at each side of the device so as to extend longitudinally thereof. Hooked members 14 are carried'upon and depend from the axleshafts 13 and terminate at their lower extremity in-inwardly turned books 15. Lower side plates :are secured to the inher faces of each ofthe hook members .14; and turn inwardly over each of the hooks 15 to .form longitudinal shelves.

. The upper portions of the hook extend outwardly to form lever arms 37 which terminate inbearingsfor a counterweight" shaft '16. The counterweight shafts are therebyispaced from, and extend parallel to,

theinner. faces of each of the brack- PATENT-TQFFI EN members 4,

the axle shafts 13. Counterweights 19, are

. inwardly upon the hinge .shaft13.

The hook members 14L and the lower plates 18 are swung outwardly by means of operating cables, 20 which extend upwardly from the counterweight shaft '16'over pulleys 21'upo'n each of the channel irons 9 and terminate in arin'g 22'to which a crane loweringcable 23 it attached. The entire device is supported upon four supporting ,cablesQ/i extending from brackets-25 .at each extremity of the channel irons z-10and' terminate'fin a lifting probably of the locomotive type; To engage ring 26. The lifting cable of the crane illus- I 55 ithe'latter projecting beyond the sides of the Uponthe projecting portions of the .the device over a pile of cross ties.

a pile of cross ties the crane operator supports the entire device upon the lowering cable 23. This causes the hook members 14 and the lower plates 18 to swing outwardly, as indicated in broken line in Fig. 3. He will then lower The outwardly extending plates 18willact as guides to guide the device over the pile.

When the bottom of the pile has been reached or when a desired depth inthe pile has been reached, the crane "operator picks up the weight upon the lifting cable 27 and releases the weight upon the lowering cable 23. i

the pile has been rested upon supportingmembers or base ties such as indicated at 28,

in Fig. 1 or upon a tram or railroad car for transportation.

With the ties piled, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the lowermost longitudinal ties, indicated at 29, are rested at their extremities upon laterally placed base ties 30 so that entrance of the hooks 15 is facilitated. Should it be desired to remove just the upper four tiers of the pile of Fig. 1, the device will be lowered to that depth in the pile and the hooks allowed to swing inwardly. The hooks will push the longitudinally piled ties inwardly to allow them to grip the extremities of the lateral ties in the fourth tier. It will thus be seen that any desired number of ties can be picked off from a pile.

Ordinarily the weight of the ties upon the shelves of the hooks 15 will be'sufiicient to hold them in place especially since they are vice.

the device.

usually piled in interlocked relation. For greater safety, however, the forms of Figs. 4 and 5 may be used in connection with the de- Altemate construction In Fig.4 the supporting cables 24: are connected with bell crank levers 25 pivoted at 26 to the lateral channels 10. The levers 25 are.

constructed with relatively long arms 27 which, when the cables 24are tightened-will swing downwardly-and force longitudinal bars 28 agaisnt'the pile of ties to securely clamp them in position.i The amount of movement of the levers can be limited by means of a cross chain 29, as illustrated, if

desired. 7

Another method for clamping the ties in place-within the device is illustrated in Fig.

5, in which a clamp screw 30 operated by a hand wheel 31 is placed at each corner of wardly.

The screws 30 are carried in nuts 32 secured to the channels 10. After a pile of ties has been engaged an assistant can screw the screws 30 downwardly to engage the pile top.

It will usually be found that the counterweights 19 are sufficient to swing the hooks 15 and plates 18 under the pile. Should additional power be desired or shouldit be desired to provide a positive lock for the swinging portions, the construction of Fig. 6 may be employed. In this construction modified hook members 33 are carried on the hinge bars 13 and provided with crank pins 34. Connecting rods .35 extend upwardly from the crank pins 34 to bell crank levers 36 at each corner of'the device. The supporting cables at are connected directly to the levers 36 soi that when they are tightened they will act through the levers 36 and. the rods 35, to swing the hook members 33 inwardly and hold them in place while the weight is being lifted.

It is desired to be understood that all of these modifications are interchangeable,that

is, the bell crank levers 36 could be incorporated withthe bell crank lever 25 of'Fig. l, so that the supporting cables 24 would exert both a downward and inward clamping ac: tion upon the ties.

If desired the extremities of the plates 17 and 18 can be turned inwardly to form end flanges 38,-as shown in Fig. 6, to prevent the,

ties from sliding from the extremities of the device. used in operating on long continuous piles of ties.

WVhile specific formsof the improvement have been described and illustrated herein, it

is desired to be understood that the same mayv inwardly to' support the load between'said sides; and counterweights arranged to swing said hookmembers inwardly. j

2. A crane operated device for engaging.

piled material comprising a topframe; sides 7 depending downwardly from said top frame;

hook members hinged to the lower extremity of said sides and arranged to swing'inwardly to support the load between said sides; coun;

terweights arranged to swing said hookmembers inwardly; and positively operated means arranged'to swing said hooked members out- 3. A'craneoperated device for engaging a pile of cross ties or the like comprising: laterally placed frame members; brackets ex- These flanges, however, can not be V tending downwardly from the extremities of said levers will operate to swing said hook said members; hinged members on the lower extremity of said brackets; hooks on said hinged members arranged to extend inwardly under said pile; and means for swinging said hinged members inwardly, said means comprising: outwardly projecting arms on said hinged members so as to provide a counterweight .to swing said hinged members inwardly.

4; A crane operated device for engaging a pile of 'cross ties or the like comprisingzlaterally placed frame members; brackets extending downwardly from the extremities of said members; hinged members on the lower extremity of said brackets; hooks on .said

hinged members arranged to extend inward 1y under said pile; means for swingingisaid hinged members inwardly, said means comprising: outwardly projecting arms on said hinged members so as to provide a counterweight to swing said hinged members inwardly; and flexible means operatively connected with said lever arms and arranged to I swing said hinged members outwardly.

5. A crane operated device for engaging piled material comprising: a top frame .sides depending downwardly from said top frame; and hook members hinged to thelower extremity of said sides and arranged to swing inwardly to support the load between said sides; and means for swinging said hook members inwardly comprising: levers; connecting rods between one extremity of said levers and said hook members; and alifting cable secured to the other extremity of said levers so that when said cable is tightened members inwardl r In testimony w ereof, I aflix my signature. 7

ORLO A. BARTHOLOMEW. 

